If you follow me on Instagram and watched my Insta stories last week you might have noticed something different about me…
I got braces! At 26 years old. For the first time.
I have hated my teeth my whole life. They’re crooked, my mouth is narrow, and I have an overbite. On top of the cosmetic problems the shape of my mouth also causes me to be a mouth breather and affects my sinuses. I’m on three allergy meds year round because of how my upper jaw impedes into my nasal area. It’s a party. 😉
Where other kids complained about having to get braces, I begged my dad for them. But he was a single parent and we didn’t have the money, so they didn’t happen. And as I got older, I became more and more self-conscious about my smile.
I realize this is a total first world problem, but everyone my age has nice teeth. Getting braces as a kid is pretty standard these days, so to not have a nice smile is something that is very noticeable and sets you apart… in a not good way.
I went for a braces consultation in my early 20’s and was told that not only do I need braces, but because of my age and the fact my jaw is no longer malleable, I also need jaw surgery. (The procedure is called a Le Fort I and involves breaking your upper jaw into three pieces.) My parent’s insurance wouldn’t cover jaw surgery and it was not something I was able to afford on my own as a college student, so I filed the information away and went back to sucking up my insecurities about my teeth.
Enter now. Josh and I have stable jobs, my insurance covers jaw surgery, and even offers a discount on orthodontia. So here I am at 26, with a metal mouth, looking at nine months of braces, followed by jaw surgery, followed by six more months of braces. And I could not be happier.
It’s going to be a journey, and one I’m excited to share with you. Five days into braces and I am currently on a soft food only diet and coating my mouth with dental wax every day. Everyone’s telling me it will get better, and slowly but surely it is.
It feels sort of weird to get braces in your 20’s, visiting a dental office clearly designed for kids, where the parents in the waiting room are closer to your age than the patients, but I know it will all be worth it in a few years. Braces will eventually be a distant memory and I’ll have the smile I’ve always dreamed about. At the end of the day, I decided 26 was way too young to stop pursuing my dreams.
Questions of the Day: Did you have braces as a kid? Any other fellow 20-something bracefaces? What’s something you always wanted that you had to make happen later in life?
This was my life a few years ago! I got braces for the first time when I was 28, in 2012. Mostly for the same reasons – my parents could never afford braces, their insurance didn’t cover it and I always wanted them my entire life. I was lucky enough to also get pregnant for the first time in 2012, so I had to deal with the first year of adjustments along with pregnancy cravings, that was real fun – haha. I don’t regret it for one moment! Of course, there were times during my treatment I thought I would never get my braces off. But, it was completely worth it. My main advice – WEAR YOUR RETAINER!!! I have to admit I haven’t been the best with wearing my retainer and one tooth has slightly popped out. No one can tell, just me, but my orthodontist is going to adjust my retainer to pop it back in place. The before and after of me are amazing, it literally change the structure of my face/mouth. I can’t wait to see your progress!
LOVE it!! And soon maybe we will all know the secrets behind Smoothie King’s smoothies 😉 haha
You look gorgeous with them!! I remember having braces and looked so ridiculous I ended up getting Invisalign! ha!
You still look so cute with them! I’m sure it will go quick 😉
First, you look adorable!! Braces have come so far, aesthetically, since I wore them almost 40 yrs ago. (Yes, I’m that old!) I wore them for 3 yrs in high school – even for my senior photo. I had perfected the Mona Lisa smile by then so as to not scare people will my mouth full of full-on metal, as was the fashion of braces back then. But still… senior photo with the weird smile. A few yrs ago I worked with a woman who got braces in her 40’s. We all accepted it – no big deal – but WOW! when she got them off, what a beautiful difference. I look forward to checking back with you for *your* WOW! moment, too! 🙂
I had braces for 5 years! But I got them when I was 7 because my overbite was so bad. You’re going to be rocking those braces girl!
Definitely a process but it will be worth it in the end!
embrace the braces– they look good on you!
i had them when i was a kid and i thought iw as so cool! haha
It might be painful now, but it is worth it! So happy for you. I had them as a kid and would do it all again.
You look great with braces! I got mine in high school and was happy to have had them when I was a little older because I really valued the importance of taking care of my teeth. My husband got his when he was really young and stopped wearing his retainer so he basically needs to start all over again. I remember those first few days were painful but it goes away and you get used to them pretty quick. 🙂
I saw your Instagram story & couldn’t even tell that you had them on until you said something! Braces have come a long way since I had them in high school. Unfortunately, I never wore my retainer so my teeth have shifted & I need to get them again or else I might have major issues later in life. 🙁 So, I feel your pain there!
I had braces since I was ten until I was 13, then my last molars came out and pushed some of my front teeth so I had to get them again at 21. It sure it’s painful but totally worth it
You go girl! That’s awesome you decided to do orthodontia! I had braces for 9 years, way past the times that it was “cool”, especially when I had to have palette expanders and all the metal implants that made it difficult and nearly impossible to talk. I know it was definitely worth it in the end!
You’ve got such a good attitude about it-you’re rocking it!
Caitlin
You look great girl! I had braces when I was growing up! Just remember it is temporary and when you get them off you will love the results! xo, Nataly
No worries! I’m 27 and I probably won’t be able to get my braces until I’m closer to 30! I think there are a lot of older adults getting them because they couldn’t when they were younger.
It’s crazy how technology has changed since I had them in grade school!
You still look amazing & they will be so worth it once you’re all done!
You look fab and it is 100% worth it! I wore them for SO many years!
I have seen a lot of adults lately getting braces. I am glad you are happy about and getting what you want.
I think it’s awesome that you took that step and got braces! That takes a lot of courage at your age! I had braces for three years when I was little, but after being allergic to my retainer I had to stop wearing it and now my teeth are all crooked again. I’m definitely thinking about getting either braces or Invisaligns now! Best of luck on your journey!
Stephanie // SheSawStyle.com
This is so exciting! One of the best things I’ve done. Can’t wait to see how happy you are with the results!
Kudos to you for doing this, Erin! If it’s any consolation, my dad got braces in his 40’s. He would be in the waiting room with all the kids, although he rarely had to wait in the waiting room since the orthodontist realized my dad was the one footing the bill for himself, my sister, and me, so he got much faster service! You’re inspiring in the way you are taking steps to change something that has always bothered you. You look amazing now and soon your smile will be even more beautiful than it already is!
Good for you! I had braces when I was a teenager and while I didn’t necessarily *love* them, I never complained because I knew how good they would make my teeth look! They are so worth the hassle and short term pain and before you know it, they’ll be off! If you do get a retainer after they’re removed, make sure you wear it most of the time! I had friends who had braces but then never wore the retainer and their teeth shifted quite a bit.
I really want braces again! I need them but am scared to bite the bullet!
It doesn’t sound like you’ll have to have them on for too long, so that’s good. But you’ve got a great attitude about it, so I know you’ll be rocking them!
Girl, you got this!! I had to get braces a second time when I was in my early twenties, too, and it ends up being so worth it!!!
You look great with them!! The time will fly by!!
You look amazing!
Your teeth are going to look great! I never had braces growing up but did Invisalign my first year of college and I love my teeth now.
Oh, but you’re going to love the end results! Yay!!
I got braces when I was a sophomore in high school and I thought it was cool haha! I feel like now that I’m 20-something I may need them again because I don’t wear my retainer.. oops! But can’t bring myself to get braces again! But it’s probably not that bad!
Girl do your thing! Those braces will be off before you know it! I don’t know why tough times seem to always come around, but this too shall pass.
My mom got braces as an adult, but now she has the nicest smile out of ALL her girlfriends – haha!
I got braces when I was 17 and just going into uni. I’m very happy with the results and I’m sure you’ll be happy with yours too. They’ll be off before you know it. Take care and all the best.
Ah, you’ve made me feel much better about the prospect of needing braces + the surgery myself. (We’re the same age!) Thanks for sharing your journey.